One WorldBy Ronald F. White, Ph.D

Professor of Philosophy

College of Mount St. Joseph

Introduction• Foundations of Truth and Value

– Objectivism (Hyper-norms)• Descriptive• Prescriptive

– Relativism (No Hyper-norms)• Descriptive• Prescriptive

• In-Group/out-group Bias – Egoism, Nepotism, Racism, Ethnocentrism, Sexism,

Nationalism, and Speciesism.

• Nature of Morality– Group specific (relative)– Universal

Global Issues

• War

• Genocide

• Poverty

• World Hunger

• Environmental Degradation– Pollution– Extinction of species

Relativism• Realism(foundationalism)

– Descriptive Realism – Prescriptive Realism

• Relativism– Descriptive Relativism (constructivism)– Prescriptive Relativism (constructivism)– Historical relativism– Cultural relativism– Personal Relativism (egoism)

• Timeless Universalism-– Divine Command– Kantianism (rights-based) Categorical Imperative– Utilitarianism (consequentialism) Utility Principle

Peter Singer• The “Dangerous Philosopher?”

– Euthanasia– Animal Rights (Speciesism)– A Darwinian Left (Evolution)– Nationalism v. Globalism– Preference Utilitarianism

Preference Utilitarianism

• The Expanding Circle

• Utilitarianism– Sentience and Morality– Universality vs. Relativism

• Equality • Discrimination

– Egoism, nepotism, racism, sexism, nationalism

– Preference Utilitarianism